Mattress-filler device



July 30, 1929- T. COGHLAN ET AL MATTRESS FILLER DEVICE 'Filed Aug. 1o, 1927 v Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED rss r ai

MATTRESS-FILLER DEVICE.

Application filed August 10, 1927. Serial No. 211,904.

This invention relates to devices for filling or stufling mattresses, cushions and the like.

The principal object of the invention is the provisionof new and improved means for inserting padding in the pipes or compartments of mattresses, pads, cushions and like structures. Y

`Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of a device for inserting padding in mattresses and the like that isv so constructed that the same will contain suflicient padding to fill a compartment or pipe of the mattress or cushion that is being filled.

A further` object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved method of filling mattresses, cushions, pads and the like cheaply and expeditiously.

A still further object of the invention is the provision ef a new and improved deviceV for stuffing mattresses, pads, cushions and like sti uctures that is so constructed thatthe padding will be inserted in a loose condition and will be evenly and smoothly distributed.

Another ob] ect of the invention is the provision of a new and improved vdevice for fill? ing or stuiiing mattresses, cushions, pads and like devices that is cheap to manufacture, simple in construction, easily manipulated,

efficient in operation, and that is not likely to become broken or get out of order.

ther and further object-s and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which i Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the filler or pilot device with a load of padding therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a pad or mattress showing certain of the compart ments with the padding in position therein, showing others empty, and still another with the invention in position therein; and

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the mattress or pad showing a load of padding in one of the compartments with the pilot device removed.

Referring nowito the drawings, the numeral 10 designates what, for convenience, will be termed a mattress having the compartments 11 therein. These compartments extend transversely of the mattress, and are separated by flexible strips 12 in the usual manner.

Great difficulty heretofore has been experienced in inserting the padding or filling in the pipes or compartments 11. It is common practice to attach a strip of paper by an adhesive to opposite sides of the padding to hold the same while it is being inserted in the compartments or pipes. This isobj'ef tionable, because it takes time and is more or less expensive. The present invention seeks to eliminate this diiiiculty, and provides means whereby. the padding or filling may bereadily inserted in the separate compartments. 4

Suitable means are provided for inserting the filler material within the compartments 11. As shown, a iiller device 20 is employed for this purpose. It comprises a pilot member 13 and guard plates 14 and 15. The pilot member is formed from a strip of sheet metal bent to form what will be termed a box-like structure with open ends and having a bottom wall 16 and side walls 17. The free edges of said side walls may be and preferably are bent over tioward each other to form retaining flanges 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In order to strengthen the pilot member the flanges 18 may be re! turn bent, as at 30, to form strengthening ribs. The pilot member is of proper dimensions to be readily inserted within the com.- partments 11., and lis approximately the same length as said compartments.

One or more guard or retaining plates are provided for coperating with the pilot membe-r for inserting the filler material in the compartments, and for holding orretaining said material in said compartments while the pilot member is being withdrawn. As shown, two plates are employed for this pur-y pose, an upper plate 14 and a lower plate 15. The plate 15 may be, and preferably'is provided with an upturned portion at one end thereof, as at 21, which, when in position within the pilot member will constitute a closure for the inner end thereof; The upturned portion 21 is 0f such height as'to be readily slidable beneath the flanges 18., The upturned end 21 constitutes a convenient means for manipulating said plate. The plate 14 is provided at one end intermediate the side edges thereof with an upstanding projection 22, which constitutes convenient means for manipulating the plate 14. The

two plates 14 and 15 are slidable within thev pilot member, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The pilot member 13 is provided with a handle 23, which may be, and preferably is rigidly attached to each of the side walls 17 on the outer sidethereof.

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or mattress will be :when the material is in The handle 23 is of less width than the height of the walls'17, sol that the guard plate 14 may be slid in position from either end of the pilot member 13.

In loading the fillerv device the bottom guard plate 15 is placed in position in the pilot member 13, and the filler material, such as cotton, hair, or the like, is placed within the pilot member on the plate 15. The plate 14 is then slid from the inner end along the pilot member a short distance at a time, and the filler material is forced back under the plate 14 against the upstanding portion 21 as said plate is intermittently moved forwardly until the pilot member 13 has been completely filled with the proper amount of filler material for one of the compartments or pipes 11. Vhen the pilot member is loaded, it is then inserted in one of the pipes orcomartm'ents 11. It is .then withdrawn by the andle 23, the plates 14 and 15 remaining within the compartment for holding the filler material in position while said pilot is being removed.` After 'the removal of the pilot member the plates 14 and 15 may be removed one rat a time by means of the upturned ends 21 and.22 without disturbing the filler material. The Aside edges of the ller material coming in contact with the side walls of the compartments will hold the material from moving outwardly with theplates while they are being removed.

The filler member is approximately the same length as the mattress, so that when it is inserted in the pipesor compartments and removed in sections, the filler material will be left in proper position within the mattress. When the pilotis removed, the resiliency of the filler material will cause it to expand, and

when the plates 14 and 15 have iinally been removed, vthe material will expand to the desired thickness, as indicated in I4`ig. 2. It will be understood that the more filler mate; rial crowded or forced into the filler device as it is being loaded,.the thicker the cushion serted in said compartments.

Itis thought from the foregoing taken t connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of our device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that various changes in size, shape,v

proportion and details of construction may be inade without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

IVe claim as our invention:

1. A device for inserting padding in mattresses and the like, comprising a long pilot member having bottom and sidewalls rigidly connected together, said member being open at each end and having the outer portions of its side walls bent inwardly to form retaining flanges, a bottom guard plate for slidably engaging the bottom wall of said pilot member, and a removable guard 'member forl engaging beneath said ianges whereby padding may be inserted in-said pilot between said guard plate vand member after said guard plate is in position in said pilot member.

2. In combination, a pilot member having bottomand side walls rigidly connected together and adapted to holdtpadding for a mattress, a guard member adapted to be slid into said pilot member and engage said bottom wall, a closure for said pilot member adapted to be positioned in saidv pilot member in spaced relation to said guard member for retaining said padding in position therein, and retaining members on said side walls for engaging said closurefor preventing outward movement of the same transversely to said pilot member. A l

` 3. In a device for filling mattress compart# ments, a pil-ot comprising a trough-shaped member for containing `suiiicient material to properly fill one compartment,.and an upper and a lower plate member for retaining said materialv within said compartment after the samerhas been inserted therein by said pilot while the latter is being removed, said members being removable from said compartment after said pilot has been removed.

4. A device for filling mattress compartments comprising a long narrow trough-like structure open at each end, a bottom guard plate having an upturned end for constituting a closure for one end of said structure and slidable on the bottom thereof, and a top guard plate slidably engaging the portion of said structure opposite said bottom guard plate.

In testimony whereof we aHiX our signatures.

THOMAS oocaiLAu. WILLIAM LoisnLLE. 

